Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFYTBE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFYTBE’, particularly characterized by having large white flowers with a light yellow-green lip, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFYTBE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALFYTBE’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with large white flowers with a light yellow-green lip, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFYTBE’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in April 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘6133-04’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1988’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in November 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2017. ‘PHALFYTBE’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFYTBE’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant.

-   -   1) Large white flowers with a light yellow-green lip;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week old plants in February 2018. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALFYTBE’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFYTBE’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALFYTBE’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFYTBE’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in February 2017 on flowering plants which were planted in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50-weeks in a 12 centimeter pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFYTBE’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘6133-04’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1988’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)             with branching lateral roots having light green (RHS 144C)             colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24             weeks. After transplantation in 12 cm pots, the plants are             finished after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 52.0 cm to 57.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 34.0 cm to 36.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 15.0 cm             to 18.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 30 degrees and 40 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS             147B. Texture: Rough upper surface. Thickness: 2.5 mm to             2.9 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein:             Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—6 to 10.         -   Length.—52.0 cm to 57.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.8 mm to 6.3 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200A) and green (RHS 146A).         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 200.0 mm to             220.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 100.0 mm to 105.0 mm. Diameter: 110.0 mm to             115.0 mm. Depth of lip: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 13 to 16 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.             Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Light             yellow-green (RHS 145C) with light red-purple shade (RHS             64A).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from             base to tip): 52.0 mm to 54.0 mm. Width: 68.0 mm to 70.0 mm.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White             (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic             color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic broad. Apex: Emarginated.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 55.0 mm to             57.0 mm. Width: 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Slightly light purple (RHS 76C) in the             middle.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 56.0 mm to             58.0 mm. Width: 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light green (RHS 145C) at the base. Lower             surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light             green (RHS 145C) at the base and slightly light purple (RHS             76C) at the apex.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 34.0             mm to 36.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Slightly undulated. Length: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.             Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Color: Yellow-green (RHS 151D) at             the base and few red-brown (RHS 174A) stripes; white (RHS             NN155C) toward the margin.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 21.0             mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm. Color:             Yellow-green (RHS N144A) at the base and red-brown (RHS             174A) edge toward the callus; white (RHS NN155C) toward             whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm.             Length: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm. Width: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 6A) with red-brown (RHS 174A) dots. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to             6.3 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS N25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to 2.7             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Diameter: 2.8 mm to             3.1 mm. Color: Green (RHS 146C) and greenish white (RHS             157D) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALFYTBE’ differs from female parent plant ‘6133-04’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFYTBE’ has white whiskers, a white-green ovary, and red-brown stripes on the apical lobe, whereas ‘6133-04’ has yellow whiskers, a light purple ovary, and red stripes on the apical lobe. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTBE’ has longer whiskers than ‘6133-04’.

‘PHALFYTBE’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-1988’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFYTBE’ has white whiskers, a white-green ovary, and red-brown stripes on the apical lobe, whereas ‘01-1988’ has yellow whiskers, a pinkish white ovary, and red stripes on the apical lobe. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTBE’ has longer whiskers than ‘01-1988’.

‘PHALFYTBE’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALFOREI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,944) and ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,466). ‘PHALFYTBE’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFOREI’ in that ‘PHALFYTBE’ has white whiskers, whereas ‘PHALFOREI’ has yellow whiskers. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTBE’ has larger flowers, longer dorsal sepals, and longer whiskers than ‘PHALFOREI’.

‘PHALFYTBE’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ in that ‘PHALFYTBE’ has white whiskers, whereas ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has white whiskers with yellow tips. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTBE’ has a smaller callus than ‘PHALDIPWEQ’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFYTBE’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 